Grave-filler.



L. G. WARD.

GRAVE PILLER.

u APPLICATION FILED JAN.19, 1911. Patented 22 l 3 SHEETS-SHEET l,

COLUMBIA PLANQGRAPH CO.. WASHINGTON. DA C.

- L. G. WARD. GRAVE PILLER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN,19, 1911. 1,041,921. Patented 0@n.22,1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH Co.. WASHINUTON. D. c.

L. G. WARD.

GRAVE FILLEB.. APPLIOATIONHLBD 11111.19, 1911.

1,041,921. Patented 001122,1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

EET- 5,

gwumtoz m9. V mw m COLUMBIA PLANoGluPH c0wASH1NGToN, D. C4

LEONARD G. VARD, OF DEMOPOLIS, ALABAMA.

GRAVE-FILLER.

Application filed January 19, 1911.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, LEONARD G. ivano, a citizen of the United States, residing at Demopolis, in the county of Marengo, State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grave-Fillers; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

rl`his invention relates to grave filling devices.

The object of the invention resides in the provision of a device of the character named through the instrumentality of which the excavated earth may be quickly and easily replaced into the grave with a minimum amount of labor.

still further object of the invent-ion resides in the provision of a device of this character which will be efficient in use, easy of operation, and which may be manufactured at a comparatively small cost.

Vith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in the several views; and in which,

Figure 1 is a plan view of the device associated with an excavated grave; Fig. 2, a side elevation of what is shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a side elevation showing the device in the position itwould occupy during its initial operation; Fig. l, a side elevation showing the position of the parts of the device atI a subsequent stage in its operation; Fig. 5, a plan view of what is shown in Fig. l; Fig. 6, a detail view of one of the anchor bars.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates an excavated grave. Disposed longitudinally at each side of the grave A are anchor members B and C. Each of these members is formed of apair of bars 10 and 11 disposed longitudinally of each other and connected together at their adjacent ends by means of a hinge 12, whereby they may be folded into compact form for transportation from one point to another. Secured in the longitudinal Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Uct. 22, 1912.

Serial No. 603,550.

sides of the bars 10 and 11 which are disposed adjacent the grave are laterally proj ecting pins 13, and formed in the outer ends of each of said bars are openings 14 which receive pins 15 for the purpose of seeming the members B and C against movement when disposed in ope 'ative position. A. fabric sheet 16, preferably of canvas, is disposed across the upper face of the ancho-r member C with one edge thereof located substantially in registration with the inner side of said anchor member. This edge of the fabric sheet 16 has secured thereto a plurality of spaced rings 17 which pass over the pins 13 secured to the side of the anchor member adjacent the grave. By this construction, it will be apparent that a movement of the sheet 1G away from the grave will be prevented by the engagement of the rings 17 with the pins 13, while a movement thereof in the opposite direction will cause said rings to become disengaged from said pins. Secured to the outer edge of the sheet 1G is a. plurality of pull cables 18 for a purpose that will presently appear.

Another fabric sheet 19, preferably of canvas, is disposed across the anchor member B with its inner edge substantially in registration with the inner longitudinal edge of said anchor member. This edge of the sheet 19 is also provided with av plurality of spaced rings 20 which pass over the pins 13 carried by the anchor member. By ,this construction it will also be apparent that a movementof the sheet 19 toward the grave A will eventually cause the rings 2O to become disengaged from the pins 13, while movement of said sheet in the opposite direction will be prevented by the engagement of the rings and pins. The outer edge of the sheet 19 is likewise provided with a plurality of pull cables 21. After a given amount of earth has been deposited upon the sheet 19 during the excavation of the grave, another sheet 22 is disposed across the sheet 19 and the earth deposited thereon so that its inner edge will lie substantially in registration with the inner side of the anchor member B. This inner edge of the sheet 22 is likewise provided with av plurality of spaced rings 23 which also pass over the pins 13 on the anchor member B, so that movement of the sheet 22 away from the grave will be prevented by the engagement of said rings and pins, while a movement thereof in the opposite direction will cause the rings to become disengaged from the pins. Mounted on the sheet 22 a short distance from its inner edge and on its under side and disposed longitu dinally of the grave is al plurality of rings 524i. The rings 2li correspond in number to the pull cables 21 carried by the sheet 19 and these pull cables are extended under the sheet and connected to the rings Q-t respectively.

.ln use, the aiichor members are lixed upon the ground with their adjacent edges spaced a desired distance apart. The sheets 1G and i!) are then laid in place and the excavation et the grave instituted. .During the initial excavation, it is desirable that the saine amount ot ezrth be deposited on each of the sheets 1G and 1). Only enough earth is `placed upon the sheets 1G and 19 as will not render the manual movement of their outer ends toward the grave impossible. After this is done, the sheet 22 is ixed in place and the remainder of the earth of excavation deposited upon said sheet; the pull cables 21 having been previously attached to the rings 2J: respectively.

ln order to till the grave thus excavated. pull cords 25 on the outer edge of the sheet 2Q are grasped and the outer edge or the said sheet drawn toward the grave. During this movement of said sheet7 the earth therein will be caused to roll into the grave. lillithont changing position the operator or operators can then grasp the pull cables 21 and deposit the earth carried by the sheet 1S) in a similar manner into the grave. l'vhen all of the earth has been removed troni the sheets 19 and they will become detached from the pins 13. rlhe pull cables 1S of the sheet 1G are then grasped by the operator er operators and said sheet manipulated in a manner similar to the sheets 19 and 22 and the iilling of the grave thus coinpleted.

1t will thus be seen that there has been produced an exceedingly simple device which will not only facilitate the filling of the grave after the lowering of the ceilin, but will materially aid in the transportation ot the eotlin to a suitable position. to etlect such lowering.

llllhatis claimed isi- A device such as described comprising a i iir of fixed members arranged one upon each side oi: an excavation, attaching pins projecting inwardly from said iixed members, al sheet removably engaging one set of pins `and extending laterally from the excavation to receive the excavated earth, a second sheet removably engaging the pins which engage the lirst sheet and disposed upon said first sheet for also receiving the excavated earth, connections between the intermediate portion of the second sheet and the free end of the first sheet, flexible menibers attached to the free edges of the second sheet for manu-ally moving the sheets in the direction of the. excavation to diseiigage the same trom the pins, a third sheet removably engaging the pinsl provided upon the other iixed member, and operating members connected to the free edges of the third sheet.

1n testimony whereof, li aiiix my signature7 in presence of two witnesses.

LEONARD G. TARD Witness es J. l). RUrrnn, J. l). CUMP'roN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

